Latrell Mitchell delivers nine-word reply after Anthony Mundine’s attack
South Sydney Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell has had enough of his war of words with Anthony Mundine over the NRL’s racism saga.
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Latrell Mitchell is done with Anthony Mundine.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs star is giving up on the back and forth following Mundine’s late-night attack on Friday.
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The war of words between the pair ignited when Mitchell hit back at Mundine over the former boxing champ’s divisive remarks when he declared Spencer Leniu’s ‘monkey’ slur to Ezra Mam wasn’t racist.
In a video posted on Instagram on Thursday night, Mundine, 48, called for Mam to “take it on the chin” and “toughen up” over the slur delivered during the Roosters’ win over the Broncos on Sunday.
Mitchell, 26, didn’t take kindly to the comments and took to social media to put Mundine in his place.
Mundine then unleashed a blistering attack on Facebook where he blasted Mitchell while labelling him a serial “underperformer”.
It was then Mitchell who responded with a level-headed take, calling time on the bitter feud with nine words.
“The great (racial) debate will have to rest for now,” Mitchell wrote on Instagram while being draped in an Aborginal flag.
He added with regards to differing views that it’s important to “take it on board, learn and move forward.”
Mundine is no stranger to being on the receiving end of racist remarks after he was called a “black c**t” by former Bulldog Barry Ward in 1998.
Ward was handed a $10,000 fine, which was reduced to $5000 on appeal.
At the time, Mundine said he was “absolutely disgusted” and suggested it may have contributed to his exit from rugby league in 2000.
“Boxing is a very definite option for me and I may just take it up now. Rugby league may be too willing to tolerate racism,” Mundine said at the time.
Mundine walked away from rugby league midway through the 2000 season.
Leniu’s comments rocked the NRL with the incident overshadowing the league’s Las Vegas showcase.
After initially labelling it “all fun and games” after the match, Leniu admitted he did use the word “monkey” on-field during the historic fixture and entered a guilty plea to the charge.
He will appear in front of the NRL judiciary next Tuesday, with the panel to determine how long he is out for.
“I want to apologise to Ezra and his family for using the word I did and I am sincerely sorry to cause him such distress,” Leniu said.
“I’ve put my hand up and want to take ownership of this. I said the word but I didn’t mean it in a racist way. Anyone who knows me knows that’s not who I am.”
Mam was said to be devastated by the slur and rejected a peace offering of a private face-to-face apology from the Roosters new recruit.
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